In Mithun, Cong finds fresh face after four decades
Deepthi Sanjiv | TNN | Mar 26, 2019, 04:47 ISTMangaluru: After almost four decades, the Congress has decided to field a new face and youth from Dakshina Kannada. District Youth Congress president Mithun Rai, for whom minister DK Shivakumar reportedly lobbied, got the nod ahead of former minister B Ramanath Rai and several other senior leaders who were in the ticket race.
Mithun, 34, is expected to give the BJP, which has pinned its hopes on the Modi wave, a tough fight. The district leaders have returned from Delhi where they were instructed to work unitedly for Rai’s victory.
The BJP’s Nalin Kumar Kateel is seeking reelection from the constituency.
MLC Harish Kumar, who is also the Dakshina Kannada District Congress Committee president, told TOI that people in the grassroots have been demanding a fresh face and youth leader. “The BJP is known to experiment with new faces. It was decided to give Youth Congress an opportunity,” he said.
State Youth Congress president Basanagouda Badarli was expecting a ticket from Bagalkot. Since that was not possible, the Youth Congress representation was given to Dakshina Kannada. “We have been losing elections continuously with no representation for 27 years. We decided to take the risk and field a youth leader,” Harish said.
He accepted the presence of a strong Modi wave, but said the local MP has been a failure. “He has been inactive and has not done anything in the last 10 years. What will be the fate of our district, if we only look at Prime Minister Modi and vote for the BJP candidate?” he asked.
Harish said that local issues will be the party’s poll plank. “We need an MP who will respond to our problems, who is secular and is our voice in the parliament,” he said.
Mithun said that providing jobs will be his priority to ensure youngster do well in the district “Despite being an education hub, our youths study here and go out of the state or country for jobs,” he said.
Mithun, 34, is expected to give the BJP, which has pinned its hopes on the Modi wave, a tough fight. The district leaders have returned from Delhi where they were instructed to work unitedly for Rai’s victory.
The BJP’s Nalin Kumar Kateel is seeking reelection from the constituency.
MLC Harish Kumar, who is also the Dakshina Kannada District Congress Committee president, told TOI that people in the grassroots have been demanding a fresh face and youth leader. “The BJP is known to experiment with new faces. It was decided to give Youth Congress an opportunity,” he said.
State Youth Congress president Basanagouda Badarli was expecting a ticket from Bagalkot. Since that was not possible, the Youth Congress representation was given to Dakshina Kannada. “We have been losing elections continuously with no representation for 27 years. We decided to take the risk and field a youth leader,” Harish said.
He accepted the presence of a strong Modi wave, but said the local MP has been a failure. “He has been inactive and has not done anything in the last 10 years. What will be the fate of our district, if we only look at Prime Minister Modi and vote for the BJP candidate?” he asked.
Harish said that local issues will be the party’s poll plank. “We need an MP who will respond to our problems, who is secular and is our voice in the parliament,” he said.
Mithun said that providing jobs will be his priority to ensure youngster do well in the district “Despite being an education hub, our youths study here and go out of the state or country for jobs,” he said.
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